Definition

Adjective: - Very pale: Describes a person's complexion, particularly their face or skin, that has lost its healthy, natural color, appearing unnaturally pale, often with a slight greenish or sickly tinge. This condition is typically associated with illness, fatigue, shock, or poor health.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • Sau trận ốm nặng, khuôn mặt cô ấy trông rất xanh xao. (After the serious illness, her face looked very pale.)
  • Anh ấy có làn da xanh xao vì thiếu ngủ và làm việc quá sức. (He has pale skin due to lack of sleep and overwork.)
  • Đứa trẻ trông xanh xao và yếu ớt. (The child looks pale and weak.)

Advanced Usage

• The term "xanh xao" is almost exclusively used to describe human complexion and is a strong indicator of poor physical condition. It is more specific than simply "pale" (nhợt nhạt), as it often implies a concerning, unhealthy state.

Variants and Related Words

• Tái mét (adj): ashen, deathly pale (often from shock or fear).

  • Nghe tin dữ, mặt anh ta tái mét đi. (Upon hearing the bad news, his face turned ashen.)

• Nhợt nhạt (adj): pale, pallid (can be used more broadly than "xanh xao").

  • Màu sơn đã phai thành một màu nhợt nhạt. (The paint has faded to a pale color.)

Synonyms

• Pallid: lacking color, especially from illness.
• Wan: pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion.
• Ashen: of a pale gray color, like ash (often from shock).

Related Idioms

• Mặt xanh như tàu lá: Face as green as a banana leaf (a vivid simile for being extremely pale or sickly).
  • Cậu bé sốt cao, mặt xanh như tàu lá. (The boy had a high fever, his face was as green as a banana leaf.)

adj

1. very pale